Days 292, 293 & 294: Romans 13-16; Acts 20:4-26:32

The first seven verses of Romans chapter 13 has always been interesting to me, especially when you consider the government Paul was living under when he wrote it.

     Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
     This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Romans 13: 1-7)

I don't think this means that Christians should simply submit to every "law of the land" without regard to our higher authority which is God Himself. The apostles, including the writer himself, didn't. They were told many times by "the law of the land" to stop preaching Christ. They politely refused to obey. They were commanded by God to do exactly the opposite of what the worldly authorities were telling them.

I also don't think it means that we should never try to change laws that we find unjust or immoral, like our nations abortion laws for example. We are blessed to live under a government that allows many avenues to legally seek to change these things...and so we should.

The thing is, I have never, so far, been in a situation like the apostles. My government has many laws that I find objectionable, and that I hope and pray will one day be changed. But not once has it demanded that I do one thing that is exactly opposite of what Christ demands.

The government Paul lived under was WAY more oppressive than anything I have ever experienced. Acts chapters 21-26 tell of some of his experiences of persecution and unjust imprisonment. He never stopped defending himself...but he always accepted the consequences.

I also can't help but notice the way that God is working in all this. Paul once had a well-respected position and much authority. One would think that God would make use of that position to advance His kingdom. But that isn't the way He operates. The kingdom of God was advanced when Paul became a persona non grata. He was persecuted by the Jews and imprisoned by the Romans. That's how God advanced His kingdom. I think we often get this backwards. We want to operate from a position of power. It seems to me that, as I think back on the little bit of history I remember, it was the times that the church had power that were the exact times it was the most corrupt.

It seems to be a general principle that when the church of God is at its weakest, the God of the church does His best work.

I believe that if our abortion laws are never changed except to make them more liberal, that if the church loses it's tax exempt status, and even if Christianity is outlawed altogether, none of these things will stop the kingdom built on the gospel. In fact, I believe that's when we will see God working through His people like never before.